News, observations and reader questions about the Sacramento Kings and the NBA.

February 16, 2007

Oh yeah, “real” basketball
With six days left before the trading deadline, there were rumors flying recently that the Kings and Clippers had revisited talks involving Ron Artest and Corey Maggette, but Kings co-owner Joe Maloof said that wasn’t the case. The Kings simply wanted more the first time around, so any possible deal would have to be significantly sweetened.
Joe elaborated on his outlook not only on the trade deadline but the team as a whole. Not much setup needed, so interpret as you will.
On the overall approach to shaking up the roster:
“Where we don’t want to get caught is being a team that brings in the seven, six million dollar players who might help you get to the playoffs, but they’re not going to help you win a title. … Then what happens? You start overloading the payroll, you’re competing in the middle of the pack but you really don’t have a chance to win a title. We’ve always said that we wanted to win a title.
“We’re going to have to make some decisions. We’ve got to feel comfortable in our minds that, going forward, we have the right group of players. Right now, it doesn’t look like it. Things have to improve. We have to really take a hard look at what our future is. I mean it didn’t work with (Mike) Bibby, Peja (Stojakovic), and Brad (Miller), right? OK, so is it working now? Not really, so we’ll have to analyze it. That’s how I look at it.”
On the close losses:
“If you’re a salesman and you go into an account, the first thing you want to do is to close the sale. We haven’t been able to do it, and I don’t understand why. That’s what we have to get better at it.”
Any explanations?
“Maybe more experience,” he said, not clarifying any further. “We’ve been up 20 or so points and then we lose them. Something’s not right. Something’s not right.”
In general, there was a sense that nothing was imminent at the moment, with Maloof saying he hadn’t spoken to Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie in nearly a week. Then again, as he noted, things can heat up pretty quick as the deadline nears. Petrie arrives in town Friday night.
--Sam Amick